Speaking during a cruise arranged by the Serie A club, Tassotti revealed how he was talked into staying by new coach Filippo Inzaghi and general manager Adriano Galliani, but said the four months spent working with Seedorf had been testing.

"I was very close to leaving Milan," he said. "I had already spoken about it to the club, who had the idea of having a new staff. I wanted to follow [Massimiliano] Allegri.

"But then there was the change in coach and I talked with Inzaghi and Galliani, and that made me realise that my place was here."

Tassotti was assistant to Carlo Ancelotti between 2001 and 2009 and he remained at the Rossoneri when Leonardo took charge for one season.

He served as understudy to Allegri until he was dismissed on Jan. 13, taking sole charge of Milan's Coppa Italia tie with Spezia Calcio before Seedorf was installed.

"It wasn't an easy relationship with Seedorf," Tassotti said. "I was not chosen by him and maybe that is one of the reasons why things didn't go well.

"I tried to input my experience and my competence, but to do that, you've got to feel comfortable and I no longer felt happy, either at Milanello [the club's training facilities] or on the bench."

"Pippo was a special player and he's also a special coach," he said. "He used to always study the opponents. He paid particular attention to the way he selected his backroom staff and he made me feel involved right from the very beginning."